“Jungle Book” scores biggest April box office opening with $103.6 mln

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The Jungle Book" became the biggest April debut at the North American box office after making an estimated $103.6 million in the first week it opened, AceShowbiz reports. It was also the second largest April opening in history, behind last year's "Furious 7", and highest April opening for a PG-rated release after 2011's "Hop".

The Jon Favreau-directed animation benefited from 3D and premium-format screens in the domestic sales. It earned an estimated $31 million from 3D and $10.4 million from IMAX. But the international market was also welcoming. It scored $136.1 million overseas and $20.4 million of it came from IMAX screening.

"We are ecstatic about where we're starting and what it means for the future," said Dave Hollis, Disney's distribution chief. "When you combine really high quality filmmaking and the reception you hoped for from critics and consumers enjoying it, the momentum started to snowball."

With that number, "Jungle Book" scored well above analyst projections of $80 million as well as the studio's $65 million prediction. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Rentrak, credited live-action remakes trends for the success. "To have this incredible vault of content that they can go back to and reimagine, retool and recreate for today's audiences just gives them a depth and breadth of films that is almost unparalleled," Dergarabedian said. "Disney has this knack for taking something that's very old and making it new again."

The film proved to be unchallenged as fellow new entry "Barbershop: The Next Cut" landed at number 2 with approximately $20.2 million. "The Boss", which took the first place last week, added an estimated $10.1 million this weekend and secured the third place. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" became the fourth placer with additional $9 million while "Zootopia" rounded up the top 5 with approximately $8.2 million.